White Sox stun Yankees 5-0 as MLB investigates Donaldson’s alleged racist remarks

The Chicago White Sox defeated the New York Yankees 5-0 on Sunday amidst the Major League Baseball (MLB) effort to investigate an alleged racist comment from the Yankees player Josh Donaldson.

The White Sox’s victory meant a lot to Tim Anderson, whose stellar performance silenced the Yankees’ supporters with his three homers in the eighth innings. Anderson then put his finger on his lips, signaling to silence the booing home crowd at Yankee Stadium.

Anderson’s fellow teammate starter Michael Kopech admitted hearing Yankees supporters chanting “Jackie”-referred to Jackie Robinson, an African American player who ended the 80-year segregation in modern baseball in 1947—at the 2020 Silver Slugger Award winner.

The 28-year-old shortstop accused Yankees’ Josh Donaldson of being racist during Saturday’s game at Bronx. White Sox manager Tony La Russa slammed Donaldson’s comment as “racist” adding that such a remark was as strong as it got.

“He deserves the recognition and he deserves the respect,” La Russa said of Anderson. “If somebody disrespects him, he should get upset. I know I would.”

However, Anderson told Sports Illustrated in the 2019 interview that he felt like today’s Jackie, given that the legend had changed the game, and “I feel like I’m getting to a point to where I need to change the game.”

Donaldson—who is Caucasian—said in an early game that he often called Anderson “Jackie” in the past, referring to the 2019 interview, arguing that he did not mean to be racist.

Anderson kept shouting at Donaldson before White Sox slugger Jose Abreu and infielder Gavin Sheets restrained the former and warning from the umpires.

The tension in Saturday’s show went viral on social media platforms and seemed to get more attention than the game itself.

https://twitter.com/Yankees/status/1528490675171360769

Anderson, Donaldson’s history

The Saturday’s turmoil was not the first as both Donaldson and Anderson were involved in the spat in Chicago on May 13.

Donaldson made a hard tag, and Anderson shoved, triggering the benches and bullpens clearing.

Later on Saturday, Donaldson argued that he was trying to calm down the tension when the players came off the bench.

Mixed reactions

Saturday’s tension triggered mixed reactions from baseball fans, athletes, and managers.

While La Russa accused Donaldson of being racist, Yankees manager Aaron Boone defended his player saying that the 36-year-old third baseman did not mean to insult Anderson, yet claiming that the use of that remark was “somewhere he should not be going.”

White Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal confronted Donaldson at the pitch while the match was ongoing.

Grandal spoke to CBS after the game and said that Donaldson’s remark was” unacceptable.”

“This game went through a period in time where many of those comments were meant, and I think we’re way past that. And it’s just unacceptable. I just thought it was a low blow, and I want to make sure I’ve got my team’s back. There’s no way you’re allowed to say something like that,” Grandal said.

MLB will reportedly speak to related parties regarding the incident.